The 1934 elections can be seen as a referendum on New Deal policies. While conservatives and people among the middle class who did not bear the brunt of the depression saw New Deal programs as radical, ordinary people overwhelmingly voted in this election cycle to continue implementation of Roosevelt's agenda. In addition, this was the first time in modern history that the President's party gained seats in a midterm year when historically the party usually loses seats. (This wouldn't happen again until 1998 and 2002.)